NEWS

Head of State: It Is Worrying that a Parliament with a Record Low Citizens' Representation and Even Lower Public Trust Is Even Reaching for the Constitution

Bulgaria and Serbia should work together and this is the key to our economic success and Serbia's successful European integration, President Rumen Radev said after a meeting with his Serbian opposite number Aleksandar Vucic in Nis

It is worrying that a parliament with a record low citizens' representation and even lower public trust is even reaching for the Constitution. This is what President Rumen Radev told the media in Nis, Serbia, where he took part in the ceremony of commissioning the Bulgaria-Serbia Interconnector (IBS).

In the Head of State's words, there are critically important issues that parliament should focus on and should not leave the impression that the basic law in this country is being used as a screen and justification for the need for the existence of the ruling coalition. The President is adamant that he cannot bring his own proposals for amendments to the basic law given the record low public confidence in the current National Assembly.

Responding to a question about Bulgaria's prospects for membership in Schengen in the near future, the President pointed out that from an interview with the Austrian Interior Minister it is clear that Bulgaria is likely to become part of the so-called "Air Schengen" and the air borders to be opened. This is a step forward, but we have to be very careful so that we are not left with just some label that we are in Schengen - it is critically important for us to open the land borders, the Head of State stressed, adding that the conditions that the Austrian interior minister is setting for membership are hardly acceptable for Bulgaria.

Asked to comment on parliament's overturning his veto over the provision of armoured vehicles to Ukraine, Rumen Radev said that the Bulgarian MPs should realise that their responsibility is mostly towards Bulgarian citizens, their security and their quality of life, and not towards other countries.

Misunderstandings like the arrest of books will not contribute to Serbia's European path, President Rumen Radev said in response to a question, who today held a conversation with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic  the focus of which was the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia before the IBS opening ceremony. The Bulgarian Head of State stressed that the issue is of key importance to him and recalled the Dimitrovgrad joint visits with President Vucic with the aim of identifying and solving the problems of the Bulgarians there. Rumen Radev pointed out that he had received an assurance from the Serbian President that issues like the one with the Bulgarian books detained at the border would be resolved. We have to work together and this is the only guarantee for our economic success and for the successful integration of Serbia, the President said, stressing the importance of the representatives of the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia to have a livelihood in their native land, to have the freedom to declare themselves as Bulgarians, to preserve their national identity, spirituality, language, culture and Bulgaria is ready to work with Serbia to find effective solutions to this end.